The Best Products For Sensitive Skin

A guide to the best products for sensitive skin, so you'll never deal with skin irritation or suffer a breakout again -- ever

Having dry sensitive skin can present a big challenge when it comes to finding the right products to use without causing irritation to your skin. Fortunately, there are more products for sensitive skin on the shelves than there were ten years ago. According to Los Angeles dermatologist Dr. Kathryn Johnston, hypoallergenic skin products are a must for those with dry sensitive skin. Most products contain fragrances and chemicals that can exacerbate acne and sother skin problems, so it is best to stick to products made for sensitive skin. Basis is a dermatologist-recommended soap for sensitive skin and contains aloe vera, which helps with acne and sensitive skin. For those that prefer liquid cleanser, Dr. Johnston recommends Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash, an oil-free liquid cleanser for sensitive skin.

Cetaphil carries numerous products for sensitive skin, including an oil-free daily hydrating moisturizer. When searching for sunscreen for sensitive skin, the key is to watch out for the ingredient Oxybenzone, which has been known to cause allergic reactions. Cleure Natural Sunscreen is a safe sunblock for sensitive skin, formulated with pure shea butter. For shaving, try Gilette Venus Divine, which has blades coated with aloe and plant infused moisture strips for smoother shaving. Gilette and Schick are both reputable brands that carry razors for sensitive skin.

When shopping for cosmetics, Dr. Johnston recommends checking that the product is hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic (just check the label), and doing so will minimize the chances of an allergic reaction or breakout. Cosmetic brands that carry lines of makeup for sensitive skin include Laura Mercier and Bare Minerals. Covergirl has also developed a sensitive skin formula to help those with dry sensitive skin. By checking the ingredients label and making sure that you are buying the best products for sensitive skin, you will be well on the way to preventing future allergic reactions and you will be a step closer to achieving perfect, flawless skin.

Hannah, I'd watch out with Cetaphil - it contains a lot of sodium lauryl sulfate which is a really harsh detergent. Cetaphil is very deceptive in that it can get away with claiming that its good for sensitive skin because it does not contain fragrance or known irritants, but you might experience irritation due to the severe detergents in it. Furthermore, the advice in this article to "just check the label" is false - you can say whetever you want about a cosmetic because its not regulated, as stated below. You have to check the ingredient list carefully for known irritants. And a lot of so-called "organic" ingredients like lavender and peppermint are serious irritants so don't let their status as "organic" fool you either. You can be just as allergic or irritated by organic ingredients as you can synthetic ones.

The whole non-comodegenic, hypoallergenic thing is kind of meaningless in cosmetics though, since those claims are not regulated by the FDA. If the ingredient claims to be "hypoallergenic" (it can't really, since 'allergens' mean different things to different people) it's not like the FDA is going to shut them down if you have a reaction. You could make almost any claim on a cosmetic and as long as you aren't claiming a medical benefit - this is the key distinction between a cosmetic and a drug - you can pretty much say whatever you want.